Container end closure structure



I March 25, 1969 c, TEBBUTT 3,434,627

CONTAINER END CLOSURE STRUCTURE Filed May 24, 1966 I Sheet March 25, 1969 c. N. TEBBUTT CONTAINER END CLQSURE STRUCTURE Sheet 2 of 3 Filed May 24, 1966 In ventor [/larZeJ/VWr/zwz EJ511271 By 44W. m mxm March 25-, 1969 v c. N. TEBBUTT I 3,434,627

CONTAINER END CLOSURE STRUCTURE Filed May 24. 1966 A M y w M Inventor I I madam 01m am 725-5 1 By J m n @11 United States Patent U.S. Cl. 220--67 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE There is disclosed an end component for a container and a container and end component combination, the end component being moulded from plastic material and comprising an end portion provided with an annular flange which extends upwards from the end portion to terminate in a free upper end extremity disposed for gripping by an overturned end portion of a container to which the component is fitted and which is dimensioned to present an outer surface arranged to fit in sealing contact inside the container in a position for gripping by an end portion of the container overturning the component free end extremity, the flange and its free end extremity being deformed and held in sealing contact compression with the receiving portion of the container when assembly is effected.

This invention relates to containers and it is a main object of the invention to provide for a thin metal container an end component moulded from synthetic plastics material and which can be fitted easily to a container in a liquid-tight manner. A further object is to provide a container fitted with the end component.

According to the invention there is provided an end component for a container, said component being moulded from synthetic plastics material and comprising an end portion provided with an annular flange which extends upwards from the end portion for gripping by an overturned end portion of a container to which the component is fitted and which has an outer surface arranged to fit inside the container in a position for gripping by said overturned end portion. The portion of the component end portion which adjoins said flange may form an acute angle therewith.

The free extremity of the upwardly extending flange is preferably shaped to facilitate the overturning of the container end portion therearound. In one embodiment of the invention the free extremity of the upwardly extending flange is of beaded formation, and in another embodiment the free extremity of the upwardly extending flange slopes downwards from the top towards the outer surface there of.

A second annular flange may extend downwards from the component end portion.

The container end portion may include a dispensing neck.

Also according to the invention there is provided a container made of thin metal having fitted to the top thereof an end component made of synthetic plastics material and comprising an end portion provided with an annular flange which extends upwards from the end portion and is gripped against the interior sides of the container by an overturned top end portion of the container.

The container may include a support which extends inwards from the side of the container to locate the end component in position for gripping thereof by said inturning the top end portion of the container.

The portion of the component end portion which adjoins said flange may form an acute angle therewith and the edge of the overturned top portion of the container be engaged against the acute angled portion of the flange portion to form therewith a substantially gas-tight seal.

The free extremity of the upwardly extending flange is preferably shaped to facilitate overturning of the container end portion therearound. In one embodiment of the invention the free extremity of the upwardly extending flange is of beaded formation and the bead overlies said component end portion. In another embodiment of the invention the free extremity of the upwardly extending flange slopes downwards from the top towards the outer surface thereof.

A second annular flange may extend. downwards from the component end portion.

The container end portion may include a dispensing neck.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood some embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevation, partly in section, of a container according to the invention and is provided with an end component according to the invention,

FIG. 2 illustrates, to an enlarged scale, a part of FIG. 1 and the manner ofv fitting the end component to the container,

FIG. 3 is an elevation, partly in section, of an alternative form of the container and end component,

FIG. 4 illustrates, to an enlarged scale, a part of FIG. 3,

FIG. 5 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1 but showing an alternative embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 6 illustrates, to an enlarged scale, a part of FIG. 5 and the manner of fitting the end component to the container.

FIG. 7 illustrates, to an enlarged scale a modification to the end component shown in FIG. 5, and

FIGS. 8 to 10 illustrate the method of assembling a container with an end component according to FIG. 7.

In the drawings like reference numerals refer to like or similar parts.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the container end component is moulded from synthetic plastics material, for example from polyethylene or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene. The component comprises an end portion, indicated generally by the reference numeral 1, and as shown in the drawing includes a dispensing neck 2 and annular flanges 3, 4 of which the flange 3 extends upwards from the end portion and the flange 4 extends downwards. If desired, the flange 4 may be omitted. The flange 3 has an outer surface 5, which is arranged to fit against the interior side of a container as described below. As shown in the drawings, the portion 7 of the component end portion 1 which adjoins the flanges 3, 4 forms an acute angle with the upwardly extending flange 3 and the free extremity of the flange 3 is shaped to facilitate the overturning, as described below, of a container end portion therearound. To this end the free extremity of flange 3 may be rounded to be of substantially semicircular form but as shown in FIG. 2 the free extremity of flange 3 is of beaded formation 8. To facilitate moulding of the component, the head 8 is directed outwardly of flange 3 as shown in full lines in FIG. 2. but is arranged to be overturned, as shown in broken lines, when the end component is fitted to a container.

When fitting the end component to a container 9, which may be a deep drawn or impact extruded container made of aluminum, the top end portion 10 of the container has substantially parallel sides and the flanges 3, 4 are pushed into the top end of the container. As shown in FIG. 2 in broken lines, the flanges are partially pushed into the container and the movement thereof into the container causes the bead 8 to be overturned to the position thereof indicated by broken lines so that the bead 8 overlies the portion 7 of the component end portion 1. The surface of the flange 3, 4 fits against the interior sides of the container so as, when gripped by the overturned top portion 1 as described below, to make a liquid-tight seal therewith and the flanges are inserted into the container until suflicient of the top end portion of the container extends above the flange 3 to permit the portion 10 to be overturned, as by curling, about the bead 8 to be directed inwardly against the flange portion and to overlie the portion 7 of the end component as above in FIG. 1.

If the component is to be assembled with the container 9 in the top uppermost position as shown in the drawings, the container is provided with a support 11 which extends inwards from the side of the container to locate the component 1 in position for gripping thereof by the overturning of the portion 10. As shown in FIG. 1 the support 11 is a flattened inward bead but if desired the support may be an unflattened bead or a buttress. The neck 2 may be closed in any desired manner as by a cap frictionally fitted thereto or screwed on to the neck, or, as shown in FIG. 1, losing may be effected by a rubber or like disc 12, if desired with a thin metal disc 13 superimposed thereon, held in place by flanging over the extremity of the neck as indicated at 14. Further, if desired, the neck may, in known manner, be fitted with a dispensing valve.

By overturning the container end 10 about a bead 8 as described above a secure mechanical grip is ensured and this arrangement may enhance the liquid tightness of the seal due to outward pressure exerted on the assembly. A seal formed as described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 is capable of withstanding considerable internal hydraulic pressure which may be present in the container.

The container end component shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is similar to that described above but differs therefrom in that the flange 3 does not embody a bead 8. In this embodiment of the invention the free extremity of the flange 3 has a portion 8a, FIG. 4, which slopes downwards from the top of the flange towards the outer surface 5 thereof. If desired the sloping portion 8a may be a radiused portion.

The container end component shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 is also similar to that described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 but differs therefrom in that the flange 3 does not embody a bead 8 or include a flange 4. In this embodiment of the invention the free extremity of the flange 3 is of semi-circular form 8b and the flange 3 initially slopes outwards from the end portion 1 as shown in full lines in FIG. 6. When the end portion 1 is pushed into the container the flange 3 is moved inwards towards the axis of the end portion 1 as shown in broken lines in FIG. 6. The edge portion of the top end portion 10 when overturned about the top of flange 3 is located in a groove 16, FIG. 5, formed between the portion 7 and the inner side of flange 3.

FIG. 7 illustrates a modified embodiment of the end component suitable for use with a container which is to contain a gas, for example butane. As illustrated in FIG. 7 the junction 16a with the side 1611 of the groove 16 forms an angle equal to that of the raw edge 17, of the top end portion 10, FIG. 10, when the edge 17 contacts the junction 16a as shown in FIG. 10.

The method of preparing the container for assembly with an end component of the kind described with reference to FIG. 7 will now be described with reference to FIGS. 8 to 10.

As shown in FIG. 8 the container is, in known manner, necked and provided with an annular bead 18 and the top edge 17 is then trimmed squarely and smoothly. The container so prepared is engaged in a split supporting tool 19, FIG. 9 in a manner such that a portion 20 of the tool is fully engaged in the bead 18 to provide a support therefor during overturning or curling of the top end portion 10 of the container and to ensure that the bottom of the container does not engage the bottom of the tool, see FIGS. 9 and 10. The end component is then placed in position to rest on the top of the bead 18 and a reciprocable curling tool 21 is moved downwards to effect overturning or curling of the end portion 10, as shown in FIG. 10. If desired, the head 18 may be flattened, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5 as a final operation by applying pressure to the end component.

It will be understood that the dimension 22 of the top end portion 10 must be closely controlled in relation to the dimension 23 of the end component in order to ensurethat when the end portion 10 is overturned it makes contact with the end component as shown in FIG. 10 to make a substantially gas-tight seal therewith.

Container end components according to the invention are relatively economical to produce and to assemble with containers, and containers fitted with the components are sturdy, reliable, and of attractive appearance.

I claim:

1. An end component for spanning and closing substantially the entire cross sectional area of the upper end of a container, said component being molded from synthetic plastic material and comprising an end portion provided with a peripheral annular flange which extends upwards from the end portion to terminate in a free upper end extremity disposed for gripping by an overturned end portion of a container side wall to which the component is fitted and which is dimensioned to present an outer surface arranged to fit in sealing contact inside the container in a position for bripping by said overturned end portion of the container, said end component end portion sloping radially outwardly and downwardly from the uppermost portion thereof to form an acute angle with said annular flange.

2. An end component according to claim 1, wherein the free extremity of the upwardly extending flange is bead-shaped to facilitate the overturning of the container end portion therearound and has outer wall portion means normally flaring upwardly and outwardly relative to the main body of the flange for inward movement upon insertion into the upper end of the container.

3. An end component according to claim 1, wherein a second annular flange extends downwards from the component end portion.

4. A container made of thin metal having fitted to the top thereof an end component spanning and closing substantially the entire cross sectional area of the upper end of the container, said component being made of synthetic plastic material and comprising an end portion provided with a peripheral annular flange which extends upwards from the end portion to terminate in a free upper end extremity which is embraced and gripped in sealing contact against the interior of the side walls of the container by an over-turned top end portion of the container, said end component end portion sloping radially outwardly and downwardly from the uppermost portion thereof to form an acute angle with said annular flange.

5. A container according to claim 4 including a support extending inwards from the side of the container to locate the end component in position for gripping thereof by said inturning of the top end portion of the container.

6. A container according to claim 4 wherein the portion of the component end portion which adjoins said flange forms an angle therewith equal to the angle formed therewith by the edge of the overturned top end portion of the container which is engaged thereagainst to form therewith a substantially gas-tight seal.

7. A container according to claim 4, wherein the free extremity of the upwardly extending flange is bead shaped to facilitate the overturning of the container end portion therearound.

8. A container according to claim 7, wherein the free extremity of the upwardly extending flange is of beaded formation and the bead overlies said component end portion and includes outer wall portion means normally flaring upwardly and outwardly relative to the main body of the flange for inward movement upon insertion into the upper end of the container.

9. A container according to claim 4, wherein a second annular flange extends downwards from the component end portion.

10. An end component according to claim 1 wherein the free extremity of the upwardly extending flange is well rounded to facilitate the overturning of the container end portion therearound and said well rounded extremity merges downwardly into converging outer and inner wall portions in part defining the upwardly extending flange and providing a thinned flange thickness beneath said free extremity facilitating inward deformation and pressure seal facilitating compression of the flange extremity upon mounting of the end component in a container.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS GEORGE T. HALL, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. XR 

